Towel Bag

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an improved backpack and towel combination. The backpack has an opening with a sealable flap and a towel connected to the sealable flap. The towel may be carried within the backpack, and pulled out when needed such as for changing or drying of an individual. The towel has a drawstring to facilitate use around a user&#39;s body. The towel further has a pocket so that the towel can be placed over a car seat or other seat.

This Application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/717,471, filed on Oct. 23, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sports bag, and, in particular, to a sports bag related to water sports such as surfing, diving, water skiing, and the like. The present invention further relates to absorbent packaging intended for use before, during and after water sports and related activities.

2. Description

Bags, and particularly sports bags, are well known. They come in various shapes and sizes, and are designed for numerous purposes. For example, backpacks are commonly used for carrying everything from gym clothes to sports gear to outdoor gear, as well as for school books and related items.

When individuals are engaged in water activities, it is desirous to have a bag and a towel that are both easily carriable yet are convenient and avoid taking more items than necessary. In addition, there are often areas where scuba divers or surfers do not have changing rooms or the like available to conveniently and privately change into and out of swimwear and wetsuits.

What is needed, therefore, is a bag that provides carrying capacity as well as an integrated towel. The towel should, in additional to being used as a traditional towel, should be available to provide privacy while changing, even in public. It will also be advantageous for the towel to incorporate means for fastening the towel around an individual while changing, such as a drawstring or the like. In addition, it will be useful to have the towel incorporate means, such as a large pocket, for hanging over a car seat, thereby giving a wet surfer, diver, or sunbather a means to keep the surface of the seat in their vehicle dry.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a backpack that incorporates a towel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a backpack with a detachable towel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a backpack with a towel that fastens inside of the storage compartment of the backpack, is fastened using detachable means such as hook-and-loop fastening, and the towel further comprises a draw string.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a backpack with a detachable removable towel, the towel having means to secure it over a car seat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a backpack as described herein, showing the backpack closed.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a backpack as described herein, showing the backpack open and the towel attached to the interior of the backpack folded out.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a towel in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a three quarters perspective of an embodiment of a towel in accordance with the present invention, the towel positioned over an automobile seat.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention herein is as shown and disclosed below and in light of the FIGS. 1-4. FIG. 1 shows a backpack 101 with a bag portion 105 shoulder strap 102 and at least one closure 103 on a first side 104 of the backpack 101, the closure 103 is attached at the edge of an opening (FIG. 2, 208). The shoulder strap 102 is shown as being adjustable by utilizing the adjustment buckles 106, although numerous forms of shoulder straps are contemplated, including fixed-length straps. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a pocket 105. It will be understood that numerous pockets and closures may be included in the backpack design.

FIG. 2 shows the backpack of FIG. 1, but the closure flap 202 located along the first side 104 is now open, allowing access into the interior of the backpack 101 through the opening 208. The sides 201 of the closure flap 202 fasten to the backpack 101 with hook-and-loop fasteners 203, which are located on the sides 201 of the closure flap 202, and on the backpack 101 in such a manner that the location of the hook-and-loop fasteners 203 on the closure flap 202 correspond to and come in contact with the hook-and-loop fasteners 203 located on the backpack 101. While hook-and-loop fasteners are preferred, it will be understood that other fastening means well known in the art may be employed, such fastening means including but not limited to buttons, snaps, ties, zippers, etc. A towel 204 is fastened to the closure flap 202 via either permanent (e.g., sewn or the like) or detachable fastening means (e.g., hook-and-loop). The towel 204 further comprises a drawstring 205 located within a tubular portion 206 of the towel 204, the tubular portion 206 comprising the edge of the towel 204 closest to the backpack 101 closure 103. The drawstring 205 is of sufficient length that the two ends of the drawstring are outside of the tubular portion 206 such that the ends of the drawstring 205 may be grasped and pulled to tighten the towel 204 around a user. The towel 204 further comprises a pocket 207 (hidden from view in FIG. 2 on the reverse side of the towel 204).

FIG. 3 shows the towel 204 of FIG. 2, with the side of the towel 204 shown being the reverse side of the towel 204 shown in FIG. 2. The pocket 207 is shown at the upper portion of the towel 204, and the drawstring 205 and tubular portion 206 of the towel 204 are also shown.

FIG. 4 shows the towel 204 of the present invention in place over a car seat 401, with the pocket 207 expanded over and around the top of the car seat 401. The closure flap 202 is also shown.

The invention herein has been described in detail, and in light of the FIGS. 1-4. It will be understood, however, that the description herein is not intended to be limiting and variations in materials and configuration of the invention may be made without exceeding the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A backpack, the backpack comprising a bag portion; a shoulder strap; and at least one closure located on a first side of the backpack, the closure comprising a closure flap attached at the edge of an opening on the first side of the backpack, the closure flap further comprising fastening means that corresponds to fastening means on the backpack.
 2. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the backpack further comprises a towel, the towel being attached to the closure flap.
 3. The backpack of claim 2 wherein the towel further comprises a pocket.
 4. The backpack of claim 2 wherein the towel further comprises a tubular portion and a drawstring, the drawstring being located within the tubular portion and having two end portions that are disposed outside of the tubular portion.
 5. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the shoulder strap is adjustable.
 6. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the said fastening means located on the closure flap and the corresponding fastening means on the backpack are hook-and-loop fasteners.
 7. A backpack, the backpack comprising a bag portion; a shoulder strap; at least one closure located on a first side of the backpack, the closure comprising a closure flap attached at the edge of an opening on the first side of the backpack, the closure flap further comprising fastening means that corresponds to fastening means on the backpack; and a towel, the towel being attached to the closure flap.
 8. The backpack of claim 7 wherein the towel further comprises a pocket.
 9. The backpack of claim 7 wherein the towel further comprises a tubular portion and a drawstring, the drawstring being located within the tubular portion and having two end portions that are disposed outside of the tubular portion.
 10. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the shoulder strap is adjustable.
 11. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the said fastening means located on the closure flap and the corresponding fastening means on the backpack are hook-and-loop fasteners.
 12. A backpack, the backpack comprising a bag portion; a shoulder strap; at least one closure located on a first side of the backpack, the closure comprising a closure flap attached at the edge of an opening on the first side of the backpack, the closure flap further comprising fastening means that corresponds to fastening means on the backpack; a towel, the towel being attached to the closure flap; and the towel further comprising a pocket, a tubular portion and a drawstring located within the tubular portion and having two end portions that are disposed outside of the tubular portion.
 13. The backpack of claim 12 wherein the shoulder strap is adjustable.
 14. The backpack of claim 12 wherein the said fastening means located on the closure flap and the corresponding fastening means on the backpack are hook-and-loop fasteners. 